The three-phase process was started in February and this month, AAFES began rolling out the new check-acceptance program by installing a magnetic ink character recognition reader system in its East Coast stores. This equipment eliminates the need for SSNs to be written on checks. The West Point exchange and shoppette and the Stewart PX received the MICR systems April 9-16 and the new policy took effect the final day, according to Flishia Bailey, West Point Post Exchange manager.

"We have received and installed the readers. The customer is no longer required to write their SSN on their check when paying for merchandise at the main store, shoppette or Stewart PX," she said. "Other information, such as rank, name, address, unit and phone is still required."

Bailey also stated the new policy applied to concessionaires such as the barber/beauty shop, laundry/dry cleaners, GNC, frame, flower and optical shops, as well.

The implementation of the readers stateside will be complete by the end of May. The entire program should be completed when the European and Pacific systems are installed in July and August.

The new system will not require cashiers to enter the SSN of the sponsor of the check, but instead, the SSN of the person presenting the check. This is accomplished by taking the information off the presenter’s ID card and key entering the number as a one-time requirement into the computer to associate with bank information. The SSN in not required to be written on the check. The check is scanned using the MICR reader technology, which reads the routing number, account number and check number.